The Bullies

Day Five – Great People Give God Glory

The trap was set.  “Oh yeah, we’ve got the magic key in our hands. This law signed by Darius will take care of Daniel… bring him to ruin and end Darius’ plan to make Daniel the head honcho. Let’s sneak over to Daniel’s house and catch him praying. Ha Ha!”

The enemies of God’s man

roared with laughter. Daniel’s radical prayer life was about to back fire. The King had signed the decree, a law contrived by these governors, stating no one could

ask anything from anyone except Darius. Darius was pumped by the proclamation and quickly signed it.   

Daniel knew the law. He prayed anyway. To dishonor God was shameful. He couldn’t bear it.

Sneering messengers eagerly reported, “Your Majesty, you signed this law but guess who broke it? Oh yeah…your beloved Daniel.”

So Daniel was seized and thrown into the den of lions. But the king was sad. He didn’t sleep a wink all night. In the morning he sprinted to the lion’s den. “Daniel, did your God save you?”

“Your Majesty, my God has sent his

angels and shut the mouth of the lions.”

“Woo hoo!” shouted King Darius and without a second thought commanded the conspirators of Daniel to be thrown into the den of lions. Now what happened next is unbelievable—but it’s true!

Daniel’s once jeering enemies were now scared out of their wits. As soon as

they were pitched into the den, hungry lions devoured them in mid- air.   Their

bones rattled as they hit bottom!

Daniel was honored. His enemies were shamed, and the king made a decree that all nations should tremble before the God of Daniel.

” He alone is the living God, steadfast and sure. His kingdom is forever!”

Daniel 6:25-26

Daniel was bullied—too radical they said. But he was a leader—he made a

difference. So can you. Go for it!

Dear Lord, Help me. I want to honor You above all!

The Egotist - Great People Give God Glory

The Egotist

“First pride, then the crash - the bigger the ego, the harder the fall”

Proverbs 16:18 (MSG)

Young David looked into the mocking eyes of the giant who stood a whopping 9’7” tall.

God had already helped him kill a lion and a bear that went after his father’s sheep. God would do it again. 

Goliath sneered, “You’re dead meat, a joke, an insult to me! I’m gonna to feed your flesh to the buzzards. You’ll be toast today.”

David shot back unafraid, “It is the God of the Armies of Heaven that you spit upon today. He will hand you over to me and I will cut off your head.”

And—David did!

Another true story

David Wilkerson was a skinny teen. As a young boy his family moved quite often. He hated this. He could always count on a new bully.

When he set foot on the next campus his peers told him to get ready. He was going to be approached by Billy, the campus bully. Everyone took note of Billy. He was BIG!

David prayed, “Help, Lord!” A scripture flashed through David’s mind.

“It’s not by power, not by might, but by my spirit, says the Lord,”

Zechariah 4:6

The dreaded day came. As David walked home from school he saw Billy on the opposite sidewalk—Billy crossed over.

“Look at you, you skinny kid. I’m gonna knock your brains out.”

Under his breath, David began to whisper, “It’s not by might, not by power, but by My Spirt…not by might, not by power, but by my spirit…”

And as he circled Billy, David felt courage rising. He just kept circling with raised fists and whispering the verse! Nothing—ever happened. Billy walked away—mystified by David’s courage, confidence, and his fearlessness!

The next day, Billy hailed David a hero, a tough guy.

If you want to be a champion, turn to God, and give Him glory.

And a sure fire way to loose, refuse to trust in God—be an egotist.